Electric switch.



No. 815,825. PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906. E. M. HEWLETT. ELEGTRIG SWITCH.APPLIIGATIGN mum JULY 2 1904.

1 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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I *IOI ll 0 N 1Q! Witnesses: Inventor 5m Edward m. Hewlett,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IEDWARD M. HEWLETT, OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 20, 1906.

Application filed July 27, 1904. Serial No.'218,344.

- To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. HEWLETT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric switches, and has particular referenceto double-throw switches adapted to make and break circuit under oil-andespecially desi ned for handling currents of high potentia and largeamperage.

The general object of the invention is to provide a switch for thispurpose which shall e simpleand compact in structure and effective inoperation and so arranged that its various parts are readily accessiblefor inspection or repair.

In the present application I have disclosed one embodiment of myinvention in which I arran e the switch-contacts so that they projectownward from a suitable horizontal support into an oil-bath which iscontained .with said support.

in an oil receptacle removably connected The fixed contacts are arrangedinsets of three per phase, and cooperating therewith are three movablebridging contacts, which hang from the horizontal support so as to liebelow the fixed contacts and so as to swing into en agementtherewith tocomplete the circuit etween the center contacts and either trio ofoutside contacts, according to the direction of movement of theoperating mechanism. Motion is transmitted to the movable contacts bymeans of connecting links which are connected at their lower ends tosaid contacts and at their upper ends to cranks mounted upon thehorizontal support and operatively. connected with a manually-actuatedlever. When the hand-lever is actuated, the cranks are rocked and theconnecting-links pull'upward on the movable switch element and rock itinto either one or the other of its closed positions. In order to obtaincorrespondence between the movement of the switch and theoperat-' of theconnecting-links. By this organization the lateral movement of thecranks is transmitted to the upper end of the connecting-links, whichare thereby rocked about their fulcra to give the movable element of theswitch a positive lateral movement. In this way there is exactcorrespondence between the movements of the cranks and the movableswitch element, so that like movements of the operating-lever willalways establish like circuit connections.

- The invention consists of a novel organization, together with certainnovel features and combinations, which will be more fully understoodupon reference to the following detailed description of the invention,taken in connection with the accompanying drawin s.

In the said drawin s, Figure 1 is a side e evation of a double-throwmultipolar switch constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the same. Fig. 2 is a detailed view illustrating thetemporary fulcrum by which direction is given to the movement of themovable element of the switch. Fig. 3 is a rear view of theswitch-contacts, parts being shown broken away and in section. Fig. 4 isa lan view of the movable switch element, i ustrating certain of theconnecting parts and the barriers in section on a lane indicated by theline 4 4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is asectional elevation of one of thecontacts shown in Fig. 3, the plane of section' being indicated by'theline 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Fig. l designates a switchboard orother suitable support upon which the switch is adapted to be mounted.To the rear of the switchboard 10 is firmly bolted or otherwise secureda horizontally-disposed supporting-frame 11, which is carried in part ystandards 12, located at itsrear and adapted to rest at their lower endsupon the'gfloor or other suitable support. The horizontal frame 11carries a plurality of circuit-terminals 13 14 15, which are arrangedin. sets of three er phase, as clearly illustrated, with the di erentphases separated b suitable barriers 16, which are hung from t e underside of the frame 11 and suitably spaced b means of tubular washers 17,held together bolts 18, passing through their centers in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 3; Cooperating with the fixed contacts 13 14 15 area plurality of bridging contacts 19, which are hung so as to swing intoposi tion to bridge either the contacts 13 and 14 or the contacts 14'and 15. The bridging contacts 19 are mounted upon and insulated from ahorizontally disposed supportingframe 20, which is hun ,by means of aplurality of links 21 to the%ower ends of the depending side walls 22,which are secured at their upper ends to the under side of thesupporting-frame 11. Referring particularly to the movable element ofthe switch, the frame 20, which carries the,bridging contacts19,comprises side members 23, through whose ends extend the transversebolts 24, which also pass through the lower ends of the supporting-links21, as' clearly shown in Fig; 3.

Insulators are equally spaced upon the rods 24, and each is providedwith an exterior annular groove 27', which is designed to receive oneend of a bridging contact. These contacts are provided with concavebearingsurfaces at their opposite ends, which rest in the grooves-27,and they are held in place by cooperating clamping members or straps 28,

which are connected thereto by screws 29v By reason of the location ofthe depending portions of the side walls 22 midway between the centercontact '14 and the outside contacts 13 and 15, respectively,thebridging contacts 19 may be readily swung into either of theircircuit-closing positions. All of the contacts, together with the sidewalls 22 and I the depending barriers 16 and other connecti'ng. parts,are surrounded by an oil-can 30,

which is removably secured to the under side of the supporting-frame 11in any preferred manner, as by the bolts 26. When this V switch is setup for operation, the receptacle 30 is filled with oil until all of thecontacts,

' are submerged. The lower ends of the bar riers 16 extend into closeproximity to the.

transverse rods 24 of the movable contactcarryin frame 20 and intothespace be tween the insulators25 upon which the contacts 19 arelocated. The lower ends of the barriers are also curved concentricallywith the path of movement of the rods 24, so that they maintain a closerelation with said rods throughout the entire movement of the.

is obtained with a minimum size of oil-can 30.

V In order to rock the movable switch element into its closed positions,operating-links 31 are provided. These links are pivoted at their lowerends to the side members 23 of. the contact-supporting frame 20 and attheir. u ei ends to the cranks 32, which are suits 'a y journaled in theverticallyextending webs 33 of the supporting-frame 11. Motion=- siasasis transmitted to the cranks 32 from the operating-lever 34 through theagency of connecting-links 35, cranks 36, and a link 37. Suitable sprin-pressed latches 38 are located on the. front or the board 10 and areadapted to engagepins 39 on the operating-lever to hold the switchclosed whenever said lever has been properly thrown. A spring-returnedpin 40 extends down through the handle 11 on ,the operating-lever 34into proximity to the pins 39 and is adapted to be pressed against theouter end of the latches 38- to release them from the pins 39 wheneverit is desired to move the operating-lever from either closed position.

From the above it will be seen that with the switch open whenever theoperating-lever 34 is moved, the cranks 32 will be rocked. to pull uponthe contact carrying frame 20 through the connecting-links 31. Assumingthat the switch, parts are in the 'position shown in Fig. 1, if theoperating-lever 34 is pushed upward the cranks '32 will he rockedforward and willpuil upward upon the links 31 and the contacts 19 willbe: drawn upward into engagement with the contacts 13 and 1 1 or thecontacts 1 1 and 15, according to the direction in which said contactsare moved atthe time the cranks 32 begin to pull upward. it

will be apparent that until some means is pro vided for positivelyproducing this movement given movendent oi the operatinglever 34 -.wouldresult in closing the circuit sometimes between the; contacts 13 and 1eand at other ,times hetweenthe contacts 1-4: and. 15. F or I the purposeof obtaining the necessary certainty ofaction between the switch parts atemporary fulcrum is providedfior each of the links 31;. The desiredlever movement is obtained by the actionoi a pinor projection on thelink'31 engaging cooperating prcjea tions 4301i the J-inner face of thedepending walls 22.I The rojections 42 are located intermediate of tilelengths of the links 31, so

that an initial movement of the cranks 32 in the forward direction willalways force the contacts 19 rearward, while a rearward movement ofthee-ranks 32-will always produce a forward'nwvement'of the contacts.

It willbe apparent that the projections 42 and 13 remain in engagementonly for a very short time, but ion ugh to. determine the direction gofflrnoveirl of the movable element of tast er hler this direction isdetermined thefjli ease to operate as levers and simply c 111116theirhinction of drawing upward uponthe frame 29.

From'the above itwillbe' apparent that I have devised a double-throwswitch which is very compact and siinple inconstruction.

Itwillal so be apparent that inany alterations and modifications can bemade in the -struc- .tur,eand mechanism disclosed without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my in iiention TI therefore do not wish "to heiii YOU reg

ited to the specific matter disclosed, but aim to cover by the terms ofthe appended claims all such alterations and modifications.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. A double-tinowelectric switch having its movable element swung from asuitable support, operating means acting to draws'aid element towardsaid support to rock it into its closed positions, and directive meansassociated therewith for positively starting-said element in a directioncorresponding to. the direction of movement of' the operating means. 2.A double-throw electric switch having its movable element swung from ahorizontal support, operating means acting to draw said element upward,andmeans associated therewitlrfor giving a lateral direction to saidmovement corresponding to the direction of movement of the operatingmeans. i

3.A double-throw electric switch having its movable. elementswung from.a suitable support, an operating-crank mounted adja* cent thereto, alink connecting said crank and movable element and operative to drawsaid element toward said support into either of its closed positions,and means for giving a transverse movement to said elementcorrespondingto the initial movement of the crank;

4. A double-throw electric switch having .its movable element swung froma suitable support, anoperating crank mounted adj acent thereto, a linkconnecting said crank and movable element and operating to draw saidelement toward said support into eitherof its closed positions, andmeans comprising a temporary fulcrum for giving a transverse movement tosaid element corresponding to i the initial movement of the crank.

5. A double-throw electric switch having its movable element swung froma suitable support, link connected with said element and arranged todraw it toward said support to close the switch, a temporary fulcrum forthe link, and means for'sl'ightly rocking said link about its fulcrum soas to give direction to the'movement of the movable switch element.

6, A double-throw electric switch having its movable element supportedby links, an operatingdever, an operating-link connected to said elementand actuated by said lever to draw said element in the direction of saidlinks, and means for rocking said element off "dead-center to insure aswitch movement,

in correspondence with the movement of the operating-lever.

7. A double-throw electric switch having its movable element supportedby links, an operatingdever, an operating-link connected to said elementand actuated by said lever to draw said element against the thrust ofsaid links, a temporary fulcrum for said operating-link, and meansactuated by the operat ing-lever to rock said operating-link aboutitsfulcrum to carry the movable element off dead-center to one side or theother accord ing to the direction of movement of the operating-lever.

8. A double -throw electric switch, comprising a horizontally-disposedsupport, fixed contacts projecting from theunder side thereof, movablecontacts hung from said support and free to swing in opposite directionsmto circuit-closing positions, one or more operating-cranks locatedabove said movable contacts, an operating-lever for rocking said cranks,one or more links connecting said cranks and said movable contacts, lugson said links, and fired lugs located so as to be engaged by the lugs.on said links at the beginning of the closing movement and thereby rockthe movable contacts in a direction corresponding with the movement ofthe operating-lever. 9'. A doublethrow electric switch, comprising asuitable su port, fixed contacts thereon, a swinging rame hung by linksfrom said support, coeperating contacts carried'thereby, and'means forswinging said frame'into either switch-closing position.

10. A double throw electric switch, comprising a horizontally disposedsupportingplate, fixed contacts thereon, a swinging frame hungby linksfrom said plate, cooperating contacts carried thereby, and means forswinging said frame'so as to bring said contacts into eithercircuit-closing position.

"11. double-throw electric switch, comprising a horizontalsupport, thefixed contacts projecting therefrom, and coepcrating contacts hung ylinks from said support so as to swing into engagement with the centerandv either of the extreme fixed contacts.

.12. An electric switch, comprising a hori-,-

'zontally-disposed support, fixed contacts de pending from the underside thereof, a hori, zontal frame carrying cooperating contacts, linkconnections between said frame and said support, and means for swingingsaid frame so as to close the switch.

13. An electric switch comprising a horizontal support, fixed contactsdependin from the under side thereof, a horizonta frame hung from saidsupport, cooperating contacts carried thereby, means for swinging saidframe and contacts into circuit-closin position, and an oil-receptaclesecured to said support and completely surrounding the switch-contacts.

14, An electric switch, comprising a suitable supporting'lplate, aplurality of sets of fixed contacts t ereon, a swinging frame carried bysaid plate, aplurality of parallel brid ing contacts mounted thereon andsuitabl y insulated from each other and said frame, and

.means for swinging said frame and contacts into circuit-closingposition.

15. An electric switch, comprising a suit-

